christophel



Nov. 9 1926.

i C. E. CHRISTOPHER.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed July 13. 1921 9 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR EM 1 BY.

Nov. 9,1926., 1,606,016

. c. E. CHRISTOPHEL' SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed July 13; 1921 9 sheets-sheet 2 NOV. 9 y c. E. CHRISTOPHEL SHEET FEEDIN MACHINE Filed July 13. 1921 9 Shetg-Sheet s C. E. CHRISTOPHEL SHEET FEEDING MAGHIHE Filed Jul 15. 192i 9 siwQtS siiQQt 4 Nov. 9,'-12s. 4 1,606,016

- RNEYTS.

c. E; CHRISTOPHEL SHEET FEEDING- IiAcHINI-J Nov. 9 1926.

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 13, 1921 v I INVENTOR Nov. 9 1926.

, c. E. CHRISTOPHEL snam' FEEDING MACHINE Filed July 13.. 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet e BY lg "4x $0,;

ATTORNEYS) INVENTUR Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,016

0. E. CHRHSTTOPHEZL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed July 13. 1921 9 Sheets-Shet 7 i .15- T INVENTOR em a, BY

A IQRNEY Nov. 9 1926.

126063017) c. E. CHRISTOPHEL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed July 13-. 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet s Q r u k Q -i l I N v 0) (b I l l D] I [f w G 'l l l 3 I 0 [b m x "I, I"! ,l V l Q) I I l I I @3 M elttozwg a. m (2% Nov. 9 1926.

c. E'. CHRISTOPHEL SHEET FEEDING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1921 9 Sheets-Shet 9 UNITED STATES Patented Nov. 9, 19 26.

PATENT OFFICE.

GARL E. GHERISTOIHEL, OF PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DEXTER FOLDER COMPANY, PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHEET-FEEDING MACHINE.

Application filed July 13, 1921. Serial No. 484,384.

- machines and has for its primary object to provide improved means for correlating the operations of the sheet separating and sheet forwarding mechanisms in a machine of this character. One of the objects of the present invention is t9 provide improved means for timing the active periods of the sheet engaging suckers in the sheet separating and sheet forwarding mechanisms. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved const-ructi'on, combination and ar-' rangement of parts in the sheet forwarding mechanism. Certain specific objects of in-. vention will appearin the specification and be pointedout in the appended claims. .A preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the drawings, in which,

Figure 1 isa top plan view of a sheet feeding machine embodying the principles of the present invention;

separating vand sheet forwarding mechanisms, parts being broken away;

Figure 3 IS a front elevation of the air blowing and evacuating system;

forwarding mechanism with the sheet sucker in lowered position;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the relative positions of the parts at the end of the upward movement of the sheet forwarding sucker.

Figure'6 is a top plan view parts being broken away;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of thesame corresponding to the'line 77, Figure 5, parts being broken away;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the sam opposite to that shown in Figures 4 and 5 and corresponding to the arrow (8) in Figure 6, parts being broken away;

vFigure 9 is a side elevation of the same simili'a'rto Figures 4 and 5, showing the relative positions of the parts at the end of the sheet forwarding movement, parts being broken away; 7

- Figure 10 is'a side elevation of the unitary air control mechanism, parts being broken away and parts shown in section;-

V Figure 11 is a front elevation on an ear larged scale of a portion of the same, parts being broken awav:

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the sheet of the same,

pump 18 is mounted.

Figure 13 is a section on the line 1313, Figure 11, parts being broken away and parts shown in section;

Figure 14 is a section on the line1414, Figure 11;

Figures 15, 16 and 17 are side elevations of the air valve operating cams.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, my invention contemplates in a general way various features for coordinating the operations of the laterally spaced sheet separating mechanisms 1 and 2 and the laterally spaced sheet forwarding devices which are represented on Figure 1 by the sheet engaging suckers 3 and 4. The sheet separating mechanisms 1 and 2 are suspended by a transverse bar 5 and are preferably constructed alongthe lines shown and described in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 431,. 020 filed December 15th, 1920. Each of these sheet separating mechanisms is provided with a combined blower nozzle and. clamping foot 6 which is connected by an air pressure tube '7 to a blower pipe 8. A suction gripper 9 for each separating mechanism is connected by a tube 10 with a suc- Figure 4 is'a side elevation of the sheet tion pipe 11 Each of the, sheet forwarding grippers 3 and'4 is connected by atube 12 p with a suction pipe 13. The pipes 8, 11 and 13 are connected by tubes 14, 15 and 16 .respectively with the thru-ways in a valve housing 17. As shown in Figure 3, a blower air pump 18 is connected by a pipe 19 to a compres'ser air tank 20 which is arranged below a platform 21 upon which the air A compression air lead pipe 22 connects the air tank 20 to the valve housing 17. A suction air pump 23 having an exhaust 24 is connected by a pipe 25 to the valve housing 17. A motor 26 connected by a belt 27 to a cross-shaft 28 is adapted to drive the airpumps 18 and 23 by .roller 37 which runs in a cam groove 38 in Figure 12 is a section on the line 1212, a cam 39 which is keyed to the cam shaft 40.

Figure 11, parts being broken'away Aspurg' ear 41, whichmesheswith the segmental rack 33 is keyed to a shaft 42 which is journalled in a support 43 carried by a stay shaft 44. The support 43 is rovided with vertical spaced bosses 45 in which is reciprocably mounted a rod 46. Secured to the rod 46 by means of a set screw 47 is the elongated hub 48 of a bracket arm 49, said bracket arm being provided with a depending arm or lug 50 which carries a laterally projecting stud 51 which is slidably mounted in a vertical slot 52 in the outer end of a bracket arm 53 which projects rearwardly from the support 43. The bracket 49 is thus adapted to be vertically reciprocated. Said bracket 49 is provided with guides or straps I 54 within which is reciprocably mounted a slide 55, said slide 55 carries a laterally proecting pin 56 upon which is pivotally mounted a lever which comprises a link arm.

57 which connects the slide 55 to a crank arm 58 keyed to the shaft 42. A bolt 59 secures the flange 60 of a bearing boss 51 to the slide 55, a suction tube 62 being slidably mounted in the boss 61 and provided with a collar 63 which may be secured in any desired position by means of a set screw 64 for limiting the downward displacement with respect to the slide 55 of a sucker 65 carried by the lower end of the suction tube 62.

A compression spring 66 is interposed between the boss 61 and an enlargement 67 on the tube 62 for yieldably holding the sucker 65 inits lowermost position with respect to the slide 55. Acam arm 68 which constitutes an extension to the link, 57 and forms therewith acam lever for raising and low-.

ering the slide 55 is provided with an arcuate cam plate 69 which is adapted to have oscillatable contact with the horizontal run 70 of a track bar 71 and a substantially vertical cam plate 27 adapted to oscillatably engage a vertical run 73 of the bracket bar 71. Assuming the position of the several parts to be shown in Figures 2 and 4, the slide 55 is lowered andthe sucker 65 rests upon the top sheet of a pile P. As the cam 39 continues to rotate in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 4, the'segment 33 is caused to reverse its movement as indicated by the arrow in Figure 5. In consequence, a clockwise oscillation of-the crank arm 58 tends to impart to the link lever 57, 68 a combined lifting and forward movement. The latter movement is prevented by the cam plate 72 slidably engaging the vertical run 73 of the bracket bar 71 so that the upward movement of the slide 55 raises the sucker 65 together with the top sheet of the pile intothe position shown in Figure 5. As the crank arm 58 continues its upward movement, the cam arm 68 is released-to slide along the horizontal run 70 of the bracket bar 71 and to have oscillatable contact therewith. This movement imparts the horizontal forwardwhich is provided with a port 79 movable into and out of registry with a thru-way 80 which is connected above with a blower tube 14 and has its lower end opening into a cross-passage 81 to which is connected the compressed air pipe 22. Plunger 78 carries a roller 82 which is engaged by the upper arm 83 of a cam lever which is pivoted on a rod 84 carried by the forwardly projecting bracket arms 85. The lower arm 86 of the cam lever carries a roller which runs in Y a cam slot 87 in a cam 88 which is keyed to a cam shaft 89. In Figures 11 and 13, it will be seen that the suction tube 15 is connected to the upper end of a thru-way 90 which opens'into a transverse manifold channel 91. Reciprocably mounted in the valve housing 7 (HS a plunger 92 which is provided with astraightaway port 93 and a relief port 94 which hasan inlet channel 95 opening thru the end of plunger 92 into the outer .air. J ournalled on a pin 96 carried by the plunger 92 is a roller 97 which is engaged by the upper arm 98 of a cam lever which is also journalled on the rod 84, its lower arm 99 being provided with a cam roller which runs in a cam slot 100, in a cam 101 keyed to the cam shaft 89. The port 93 is adapted to establish an evacuating connection between the vacuum pump 23 and the'suction pipe 11 to-which the separator suckers are connected. A forwarder suction valve housing 108 of a'cam lever which is pivoted on the transverse rod 84, the lower arm 109 of this lever carrying a cam roller which operates in a cam slot 110 formed in a cam 11 1,which is keyed to the cam shaft 89. The relative settings of the cams 88, 1'01, and 110 is shown in Figure 10. Said cams are shown detached in Figures 15, 16 and 17 in the same angular relation as they occupy when in position on the shaft 89. Suitable means for rendering the air control inoperative at will for the purpose of removing load from the motor is preferably provided as-follows. A rock shaft 112 (see Fig. 10) is journalled in the.

ing movement of the sucker 65. jBeferring oppositely disposed side frames 113 which may be operated by hand to throw a crank arm 114. Said crank arm is pivotally connected thereto at an upper connecting rod 116 and a lower connecting rod 117. Said upper rod 116 is pivotally connected at 118 to a hollow plunger 119 which is provided with an axial extending channel 120 which is opened to the outside air. Opening thru the wall of hollow plunger port 121 which is adapted to break the suction in the passage 91 whenever the crank arm 114 is thrown to the right according to Figure 10. The connecting rod 117 is pivotally connected at 122 with a plunger 123 which is provided with an axial channel 124 which has open communication with the outside air at its right end according to Figures 10 and 14. A port 125 is adapted to release the compression air in channel 81 whenever the crank 'arm 114 is thrown to the right according to Figures 10 and 14.

The integral housing or casting 17which includes the several thru-ways and passageways and supports the movable valve parts is mounted upon a stay shaft 126.

In general the operation of the feeding apparatus has been made obvious in the description. In operation the air control mechanism is suitably timed to produce a certain sequence of operation by means of the. relative angular relation of the earns 88, 101 and 111 on the shaft 89 and with respect to each other; Thus as the sheet separating suckers 9 are lowered to'the pile, cam 111 operates to throw the plunger valve 92 into the position shown in'Figure 13 to provide the necessary suction at the suckers 9. Immediately the wind cam 88 operates to throw the plunger 78 toward the right to bring the port 79 into position to produce blasts of air from the nozzles 6 in the separators. Next the cam 111 operates to throw the plunger 104 toward the right according to Figure 14 to produce the necessary suction in the sheet forwarding suckers 3 and 4. The blower valve 78 then closes followed in quick succession by the separator suction valve 92 after which the forwarder suction valve 104 closes and breaks the vacuum after a retard interv'al following the breaking of the suction in the separator suckers.

I'claim 1. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet en gaging sucker, a reciprocable rod for supporting said sucker, means permitting a vertical movement to said, reciprocable rod for moving said sucker into and out of sheet engaging position. a track bar having a run corresponding to the vertical movement of said sucker and a second run corresponding to the forward movement of a sheet, and means slidably engaging said track bar and connected to said reciprocatory rod for imparting the. necessary movements to said sucken- 119 is a at wk;

2. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet engaging sucker, means for supporting said sucker and permitting a vertical movement into andout of sheet engaging position and a to and fro movement in the direction of a sheet feeding movement, said means includinga track bar having runs corresponding respectively to the movements of said gripper, and means slidably engaging said track bar and imparting said movements to said sucker, the last said means including a reciprocable rod which carries the sucker and a power driven link which is connected to said rod and slidably engages said track bar.

3. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet engaging sucker, means for supporting said sucker and permitting a vertical movement into and out of sheet engaging position and a to and fro movement in the direction of a sheet feeding movement, said means includmg a track bar havingruns corresponding respectively to the movements of said grip- 'per, and means slidably engaging said trackbar and imparting said movements to said sucker, supporting means including a vertically movable bracket and a suckercarrying rod reciprocable in said bracket, said link being pivotally connected to said reciprocable rod and having a depending end bearing on said track bar.

4. In a sheet feeding. machine, a reciprocatory rod capable of movement in a direction transverse to its reciprocatory movement, a track bar comprising portions corresponding respectively to these movements, a'link pivotallv connected to said reciprocatory rod and bearing against said track ar, and means for moving said link.

5. In a sheet feeding machine, a movable guide or bracket, a slide reciprocably mounted in said guide or bracket, a sheet gripper carried by said slide, an oscillatory arm. a track bar. and a link connected at one end to said oscillatory arm and bearing at its other end agaimt said track bar, said link being pivotallv connected to said slide intermediately to the ends of said link. i

6. In a sheet feeding machine, a vertically bined rocking and sliding engagement with said track bar.

,7. In a sheet feeding machine, a vertically reciprocable bracket, a horizontally reciprocable slide mountedv in said bracket, a sheet gripper carried bv said slide, an oscillatory arm, a track bar having portions extending substantilly horizontally and vertically,

pivotally connected to said slide,

IUD

and to said oscillatory arm and having a combined rocking and sliding engagement with track bar, said link having an extension provided with a cam surface suitably formed to permit a smooth slidingmovement during the changes of angularity in said link due to oscillatory arm.

8. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet engaging sucker, means for guiding said sucker to and from the top sheet of a pile and to and fro with respect to said pile, a power driven arm, a track bar having runs corresponding to the different movements of said sucker, and a link movably connecting said guiding means to said power driven arm and slidably engaging said track bar.

9. In a sheet feeding machine, a fixed support, a rod reciprocably mounted in said support, a guide extending from said rod, a rod reciprocably mounted in said guide. a sucker mounted on the last mentioned rod, a shaft provided with a bearing in said support, an arm keyed to said shaft, a link for connecting said arm to the last mentioned rod, and

a track bar comprising runways corresponding with sucker movements toward and away from said pile and to and fro with respect to said pile, said link having sliding engagement with said track bar.

10. In a sheet feeding ,machine, a fixed support, a rod reciprocably mounted in said support, a guide extending from said rod, a rod reciprocably mountedin said guide, a sucker mounted on the last mentioned rod, a shaft provided with a bearing in said support, an arm keyed to said shaft, a link for connecting said arm to the last mentioned rod, and a track bar comprising runways corresponding with sucker movements toward and away from said pile and to and fro with respect to said pile, said link having sliding engagement with said track bar, said fixed'support and bracket being provided with interengaging portions permitting relative vertical displacement.

11. In a sheet feeding machine, a fixed support with a bracket arm, a slide reciprocable in said fixed support, a guide mounted on said slide, a second slide reciprocable in said guide, said guide having an arm movable past said bracket arm on the. fixed support, a pin and slot connection between said arms, a shaft journalled in said fixed support, a crank arm keyed to said shaft, a link connecting said crank arm to said second slide, and means for imparting movements to the connection between said link and second slide toward and away from a pile of sheets and to and fro relatively to said pile.

12. In a sheet feeding -machine, a fixed support with a bracket arm, a slide reciprocable in said fixed support, a guide mounted on said slide, a second slide reciprocable in said guide, said guide having an arm movslide, and means for imparting movements to the connection between said link and second slide toward and away from a pile of sheets and to and fro relatively to said pile, said link being. provided with a cam arm, and a track bar slidably engaging said cam arm. A Y

13. In a sheet feeding machine, a suction pipe for a' sheet engaging sucker, a blower pipe for a sheet separating blower. a valve housing provided with thru-ways connected respectively to said suction pipe and said blower pipe, means for evacuating air from the former thru-way and for delivering air under pressure to the latter thru-way, valves for said thru-ways, and hand operated means for breaking the suction in said suction pipe and the pressure in said pressure pipe.

14. In a sheet feeding machine, a suction pipe for a sheet engaging sucker, a blower pipe for a sheet separating blower, a valve housing provided with thru-ways connected respectively to said suction pipe and said blower pipe, means for evacuating air from the former thru-way, means for delivering air under pressure to the latter thru-way, valves for said thru-ways, a hand operated valve interposed between said evacuating means and the valve in the thru-way leading to said suction pipe, and a hand operated valve interposed between said air-pressure means and the valve in the thru-way leading to said blower pipe.

15. In a sheet feeding machine, suction pipes for sheet engaging suckers, a valve housing provided with thru-ways connected respectively to said suction pipes, valves for said thru-ways, a suction manifold communicating with both of said thru-ways, means for evacuating the air from said thru-ways and a valve for opening and closing a channel between said suctionmanifold and the outside air.

16. In a sheet feeding machine, a suction pipe for a sheet separating sucker, a suction pipe for a sheet forwarding sucker, a pressure pipe for a sheet separating blower, a valve housing provided with thru-ways communicating with said suction and pressure pipes respectively, each of said thru-ways being intersected by a valve way, a valve movably mounted in each of said valve ways, means for evacuating the air from said suction pipes, meansfor supplying air under pressure to said pressure pipe, and means for breaking the suction of said evacuating meansand the pressure of the air supplied by said air pressure means.

17. In a sheet feeding machine, a, sheet lStl gripper, a stationary track bar having one run extending transversely to a pile of sheets and another run extending lengthwise of said pile, and means slidably engaging said portions of the track bar in succession and movably connected to said gripper.

18. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet separating suction pipe, a sheet forwarding suction pipe, a valve housing provided with thru-ways separately connected to said suction pipes, valves for said thru-ways, means for cooperatively actuating said valves for timing the suction in said pipes, a manifold common to said thruways, and a valve for breaking the suction in said manifold.

19. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet separating suction pipe, a sheet forwarding suction pipe, a sheet separating blower pipe, a valve housing provided with thru-ways respectively connected to said pipes, a valve for each of said thru-ways, means for c'ooperatively operating said valves, a manifold common to said suction pipes, a valve in said manifold for breaking the suction therein, an inlet chamber for the thru-way leading to said blower pipe, a valve in said inlet chamber for releasing the air pressure therein, and means for operating said manifold and inlet chamber valves.

20. In a sheet feeding machine, a suction pipe, an air pressure pipe, a pump for evacuating and compressing air connected up with said suction pipe and said air pressure pipe, a valve interposed between said suction pipe and said pump, a valve interposed between the pump and said air pressure pipe, and means for timing the operation of said valves for maln'ng and breaking the vacuum in one pipe and for holding and releasing the air pressure in the other pipe, a second valve being interposed between the pump and each of said pipes for rendering either of said pipes inoperative at will.

21. In a sheet feeding machine, laterally spaced sheet separating devices, each ineluding a sheet engaging sucker and a sheet separating blower, a suction pipe extending from side to side of the machine and connected up with each of said suckers, an air pressure pipe extending from side to side of the machine and connected to each of said blowers, laterally spaced sheet forwarding suckers, a second suction pipe extending from side to side of the machine and connected up with each of said sheet forwarding suckers, a pump for evacuating and compressing air, a valve housing having evacuating and air pressure connections with said pump and separate connections with each of said pipes, a valve in each of said separate connections, and means for timing the operations of said valves.

22. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet gripper, means for carrying said gripper and permitting said gripper to move to and from the top of the pile of sheets and to and fro with respect to said pile,.a track bar, and a power driven link slidably engaging said track bar and connected to said gripper carrying means.

2,3. In a sheet feeding machine, a sheet engaging sucker, a movable rod for carrying said sucker, a track bar, and means for moving said rod, said moving means slidably engaging said track bar.

24. In a sheet feeding machine, a movable guide or bracket, gripper-carrying means movably mounted on said guide or bracket, a track-bar, a link slidably engaging said track bar and movably connected to said gripper-carrying means, and means for dr.iv ing said links.

I 25. In a sheet feeding machipe, a movable guide or bracket, a slide reciprocable in said guide or bracket, a sheet gripping sucker mounted on said slide, a track bar, a link connected to said slide and bearing on said track bar, and means for driving said link.

26. The combination with a track bar having portions extending vertically and horizontally respectively, of a sucker, a carrier therefor, and means pivotally connected to said carrier and engaging said portions of the track bar successively for controlling the movements of said sucker.

27. Thecombination of a rock shaft. a rock arm carried thereby, a gripper movable vertically and horizontally, a carrier therefor, a link connected at one end to said arm and at the other end to said carrier. and a cam carried by said link and controlling the vertical movement of the gripper.

28. The combination of a rock shaft, a rock arm carriedthereby, a gripper movable vertically and horizontally, a carrier therefor, a link connected at one end to said arm and at the other end to said carrier, and a cam formed on one end of said link and controlling the vertical movement of the gripper.

-29. The combination with a track bar having portions extending vertically and horizontally respectively, of a sucker, a carrier therefor, and driving means connected to said carrier and engaging said portions of the track bar successively for controlling the movements of said sucker.

CARL E. CHRISTOPHEL. 

